Method of purifying oils



1 for the purpose of purification, is treated with d per are added,while contmually stirring and Patented 19, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE JOEF MARTIN MICHEL, OF BITTERFELD, GEBIIANY, ASSIGNOR 1'0 1. G.FABBENIN- DUSTBIE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, OI IRANKFOBT-ON-THE-MAIN, GERMANYMETHOD OF PUBIFYING OILS No Drawing. Application filed November 7, 1980,Serial No. 494,190, and in Germany November 18, 1929.

The present invention relates to a method 7 of removing certaincontaminations, particularly phosphorus, from oils.

The problem of freeing oils from contam- 5 inating phosphorus generallyarises in connection with the use of oils as lubricating orsealing'media in apparatus for producing or handling phosphorus orphosphorus containing gases, said oils, in the course of time, tak- 10ing up certain quantities of phosphorus.

However, the application of the present invention is not limited to thepurification of i such oils.

' According to the present invention the oil,

a metal or metals, preferably in powdere form, at temperatures not farbelow the boiling point of the oil. Advantageously such metals areselected for the treatment as have a suflicient aflinity to phosphorusto form metal phosphide's at relatively low temperatures. In order toprevent oxidation of the phosphorus during t e treatment, the process iscarried out in an indifierent atmosphere by continually stirring themixture.

For attaining the purpose of the present invention, I prerera ly employpowdered copper or fine copper borings. After sufiicient duration ofcontact, there results an oil which is entirely free of phosphorus andwith respect to all its physical properties is entirelyidentical withthe original oil. At the same time the phosphorus is obtained in theform of copper phosphorus which may be Eaamples (1) To 100 liters ofmineral oil, as emv 56 perature, while constantly stirring andpasscopper phosphide yield amounts to about 1.2

employed in the well-known manner for im-t ing an indifferent gas overthemixture. After allowingthe latter to reach for about 1 or 2 hours,theoil is discharged from the vessel and filtered. The copper phosphideremaining on the filter is then washed once or twice wfithilbenzene soas to remove the last traces o o The oil obtained is free fromphosphorus and retains all its original qualities. The

60 kgs. containing 18.3 percent of phosphorus. (2) To 100 liters otar-oil (employed as a sealing medium in gasometers for phosphoruscontaining gases) contain' 0.73 percent of phosphorus, 3 kgs. of powered coppassing an inert as over the mixture heated to just-below itsoiling point. After a reaction period of about 2 hours the oil isdischarged and filtered and the copper phosphide washed in the usualmanner. The oil is free from phosphorus and can be immediatel put tofurther use. The copier phos-- phi 0 yield amounts to' about 3.8 gs.containing about 21 per cent of phosphorus.

I claim:

1. A method of pu'rifyingoils contaminated by plhosphorus, whichcomprises contacting a p osphorus containing oil with a metal capable ofreacting with .phos horus in finely comminuted form at elevatetemperatures not far below the boiling point of said oils, andseparating the phosphide formed from said oil.

2. A'method of purifying oils contaminated by phosphorus, whichcomprises contacting a p osphorus containing oil with copper in finelycomminuted form at elevated temperatures not far below the boiling pointof said oils, and separating the phosphide formed from said oil.

In testimong whereof, I aflix my signature.

J SEF MARTIN MICHEL.

